The balsamic foccacia. / Katie Schlientz/For The Journal News

If you go ...

New Rochelle chef and owner Vince Gentile provides a different experience at Blackboard Pizza Shop, creating what he calls a “parlouria” — educating diners about the delicious foods that end up on their plates.

Perhaps inspired by Iona College, his academic neighbor around the corner, Gentile has created blackboards filled with culinary lingo, strategically placed around the restaurant. During your visit, you may learn that “Mornay” is a French cheese sauce or that “aioli” is simply mayonnaise flavored with garlic. But what’s the best way to learn? Tasting!

Gentile, the pizzaiolo (Italian for pizza chef), combines his classicaly-trained French culinary background with traditional Italian dishes to create gourmet menu items. The restaurant offers Neapolitan, Sicilian and grandma-style slices, but the flavors in the signature whole pies are hard to compete with (all pies sell for under $24).

The balsamic focaccia, for example, is topped with plum tomatoes, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella and basil before it’s drizzled with a balsamic reduction. One of the crowd favorites, the CCBR, combines fried chicken, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, bacon and ranch dressing.

If you’re in the mood for a small bite, there’s plenty to choose from. Order the parmesan fries ($4) or get an extra kick with the blackout fries ($7), which are smothered in three cheeses, bacon, ranch, and sriracha aioli. Try one of Little Gino’s risotto balls for $2.50, or try something unexpected — the pulled pork egg rolls for $6.

Although the college crowd provides a steady stream of customers, Gentile’s offerings are enticing plenty of families from New Rochelle and beyond. While the children enjoy their favorite slice, their parents can enjoy a glass of wine or beer with their favorite pasta.

The seasonal ravioli, currently an out-of-this-world homemade spinach ravioli covered in a beurre blanc sauce, is a must.

For under $9, Blackboard Pizza Shop also let’s you play around with your own flavors with their salad, wrap and panini menu. Start by choosing your filling (chicken, steak, pulled pork, tricolor quinoa) and then add your “friend.”